Advice to students wishing to become conference interpreters

You’re attracted to a career that would enable you to work with languages. You’ve heard about conference interpreting but you’re not sure exactly what it involves, what studies to pursue, or what opportunities may be available. Here are some questions to consider, and some further information that may point you toward finding your answers.

What do conference interpreters do?

Conference interpreters:

bridge the gap in all kinds of multilingual settings where speakers want to express themselves in their own language and still understand one another (conferences, negotiations, press briefings, seminars, depositions, TV broadcasts: you name it!)

do not do written translation: translators work with written texts, interpreters convey ideas orally

do not just parrot: they convert ideas expressed in one language (the source language) into another language (the target language) as smoothly and idiomatically as possible, preserving the meaning, tone and nuance of the original speaker

interpret "consecutively": i.e. the interpreter is in the same room as the participants, listening carefully to what is said, perhaps taking notes; when each speaker pauses, the interpreter conveys the same message from source to target language

interpret "simultaneously": i.e. the interpreters work in a team sitting in a soundproof booth; they take turns conveying each speaker's ideas from source to target language in real-time; the audience in the conference room listens through headsets

interpret using "chuchotage" or "whispering": i.e. the interpreter is in the same room as the participants providing a whispered interpretation in real-time to a small number of listeners

Can I be a professional conference interpreter without proper training?

Perhaps: some have managed it, some still do...

the interpreters who provided the first simultaneous interpretation at the post-World War II trials had to sink or swim: they had no choice but to train themselves, but you don't have to reinvent the wheel!

since the 1970s, interdisciplinary research has helped us better grasp the complex processes involved in interpreting and develop new and effective teaching methods

systematic training today is the surest route to expertise and successful practice in any profession

many hours of effective practice with other trainees and with guidance from experienced teacher/practitioners is essential

Choosing a school: what should I look for?

Choosing a school is one of the most important steps you will take on your path to becoming a trained conference interpreter. In order to assist you with your research and decision-making, AIIC regularly contacts many schools worldwide which offer conference interpreting training programmes and asks them to respond to a series of questions; the last time the survey was conducted 178 schools were contacted. The schools' answers are published on this website. For a variety of reasons (e.g. curriculum in transition, incorrect contact address, etc.) some schools did not respond to the survey questionnaire. This means that, for the present, you may not find them listed on the AIIC website.

If you have not already done so, you might want to check out the online Directory of Schools. This Directory will provide you with basic information about any school that has responded to the survey, and give you a link to its own website, if available.

When comparing schools and training programmes, you might establish a list of specific criteria which are important to you (location, scholarship support, etc). You might also consult our guide to best practice in training and add some of the considerations below to your personal shopping list:

Don't be in a hurry! Conference interpreters need to have accumulated quite a broad general knowledge as well as an excellent command of their languages (this is one profession where age is in our favor!).

Spend some time living and studying or working where your languages are spoken before applying to any training programme. The more you are familiar with the relevant cultural context, the stronger your understanding and expression will be.

Opt for a graduate training programme rather than an undergraduate programme. Graduate programmes assume that applicants have a solid command of the languages in their combination and can therefore focus more on skill acquisition as well as advanced language enhancement and an introduction to the theoretical basis of interpreting.

Don't be put off if the school you like best requires you to take an aptitude test! This is intended to help both you and the teachers on the jury get a glimpse of your current abilities in order to assess your readiness to start the programme...and is nothing personal! In some countries, the local legislation does not permit aptitude testing.

Take a look at the school's curriculum:

Does the school provide any advice on career prospects?

Are the classes offered going to cover your specific training needs?

Are classes designed and taught by practicing professional interpreters?

Do some of the teachers share your native language?

Does the programme offer classes in both consecutive and simultaneous interpreting?

Is there a class which explains professional practice (ethics etc.)?

Do outsiders, especially potential employers, attend final exams?

Final suggestion: you might consider the possibility of visiting one or more schools and observing a couple of relevant classes. You might also arrange to meet some of the instructors and speak to current students or graduates.

How can I prepare?

Some things you can do to increase your chances of success before starting a training programme:

go and live where your languages are spoken and immerse yourself in the culture

learn more about your planet and your immediate environment

increase your general knowledge

follow international affairs

learn to use a computer

learn to take care of yourself and to manage your stress well

develop good study skills

cultivate patience and the ability to integrate feedback

research your training options carefully

expand your range of command of your native language

to enhance all of your languages, selectively and actively read, watch TV and listen to radio in all your languages

Will a professional conference interpreter's lifestyle suit me?

Try this self-quiz to test your preferences! (There are no wrong answers!)

Question

Staff

Freelance

Will I have to pass a test or competition to get work?

yes

probably

Will I have to develop my own competitive professional profile?

no

essential

Will I be responsible for finding my own work?

no

yes

Will I usually work for the same institution/s?

yes

your choice

Can I work with agencies or a range of employers?

unlikely

yes

Will my employer schedule my workdays?

yes

no

May I decline assignments?

not usually

yes

Will I get a regular pay check?

yes

no

Will I get benefits?

yes

it depends

Will I have to assess my own tax liability?

no

yes

Can I live where I wish?

doubtful

yes

Will I have to travel extensively for work?

not necessarily

more likely

Will I have to travel for language enhancement?

maybe

maybe

Will I have in-house opportunities for career development and training?

often

less likely

Will I need to belong to a professional network or association?

preferable

important

To find out more about the professional conference interpreter's lifestyle, check out VEGA.

Will my languages be in demand when I have finished training and am looking for work?

A very important question... and hard to predict!

plan your profile BEFORE you train: some combinations are more "useful" and more portable than others; beware of a flavor-of-the-month push to add a language which is likely to dropped in the future

the tsunami of English continues on its course, no doubt about it: English is more widely used than ever, in all its permutations - and you probably want it in your language combination, specially if you plan to work on your local market

your decision to work in-house for an international organisation or freelance will probably affect your choice of languages

the good news: A recent study by the AIIC Staff Interpreters Committee shows that, as the impact of staff changes and retirements becomes more serious, international institutions now are cooperating with schools to try to predict future training needs and cater to a changing kaleidoscope of interpreting needs

If you are interested in working for an international organisation, visit their websites to find out more about their current and future staffing needs; see how often there is a competitive exam for applicants with your language combination. Scroll down to find a list of organisations.

Will I find work after training?

AIIC provides all kinds of advice and support for newly trained conference interpreters entering the profession, even offering you the chance to ask questions.

What other questions should I ask before taking the plunge?

The AIIC Training & Professional Development will do its best to answer any specific questions you may have. Please post them on the message board below: we will try to help you find the answers.